Here are the idioms connected with money.
I've divided them into several groups to make it easier to remember them.
1. Rich or Poor?
Idioms that describe how much money you' ve got.
BE ROLLING IN IT
have lots of money (informal).
Ex. It would be great to be rolling in it, wouldn't it?Russian equivalent: купаться в деньгах.
There are variations here. You may say: be rolling in money / in cash / in luxury etc.
HAVE MONEY TO BURN
have so much money that you can buy anything you want
Ex. Every time I see her she's wearing a new pair of shoes. She must have money to burn.
Russian equivalent: денег куры не клюют.
MAKE ENDS MEET
have just enough money to pay for the things you need
Ex. It was the time of their lives when they found it hardest to make ends meet.
Russian equivalent: сводить концы с концами.
BE STRAPPED FOR CASH
not have enough money.
Ex. - Could you lend me fifty pounds for a week?
- Sorry, mate, I'm a bit strapped for cash at the moment.Russian equivalent: быть на мели.
LIVE ON A SHOESTRING
live on very little money.
Ex. I'm tired of living on a shoestring.
Russian equivalent: жить впроголодь, перебиваться с хлеба на квас.
GO FROM RAGS TO RICHES
become very rich after being extremely poor
Ex. Although he came from a poor family, he managed to go from rags to riches.
Russian equivalent: из грязи в князи.
2. I'm not that Rich!
Idioms to say you aren't rich when someone wants you to buy them smth or pay for them.
NOT MADE OF MONEY
Not rich (when someone wants you to spend more money than you think you can afford)
Ex. Why don't we move to a bigger house? I'm not made of money, you know!
Russian equivalent: я деньги не печатаю.
MONEY DOESN'T GROW ON TREES
money is not easy to earn (when someone else, such as your child or spouse, is spending more of your money than you think you can afford)
Ex. Look how much you've spent on clothes last month! Money doesn't grow on trees, you know!
Russian equivalent: деньги на дороге не валяются.
3. Easy Matter or Hard Work?
Idioms that describe the way people earn money.
MONEY FOR OLD ROPE / MONEY FOR JAM
money that is easily earned (informal)
Ex. Some people think being a professional footballer is money for old rope.
Russian equivalent: легкие деньги.
BE LAUGHING ALL THE WAY TO THE BANK
make a lot of money easily (often because someone has been stupid)
Ex. If this business idea is successful, we'll be laughing all the way to the bank.
Russian equivalent: сорвать большой куш.
Russian equivalent: с трудом зарабатывать на жизнь.
SCRAPE A LIVING
get just enough food or money to stay alive
Ex. However long and however hard they worked to scrape a living, they would always be poor.
4. She or He?
Idioms to say who earns money for the family needs.
THE BREADWINNER
the person who earns the mony for the family needs
Ex. Since my husband lost his job, I'm the breadwinner in my family.
Russian equivalent: кормилец.
BRING HOME THE BACON
earn the money the family lives on
Ex. I bring home the bacon in my family too.
Russian equivalent: быть кормильцем, зарабатывать на жизнь.
5. Spend or Save?
Idioms to deal with the way people use money.
THROW MONEY DOWN THE DRAIN
waste money
Ex. I can't believe you've bought a new car! We can't afford to throw money down the drain.
Russian equivalent: бросать деньги на ветер.
NO-EXPENSE-SPARED / SPARE NO EXPENSES
a lot of money is spent to make it good
Ex. Enter our competition for a chance to win a no-expense-spared weekend in Paris.
Russian equivalent: роскошный / не жалеть расходов.
SCRIMP AND SAVE
live very economically
Ex. Ted has never had much money. He has always had to scrimp and save.
Russian equivalent: экономить каждую копейку.
PENNY-PINCH
spend as little money as possible
Ex. I wish we had more money. I hate being so penny-pinching all the time.
Russian equivalent: крохоборничать
PAY OVER THE ODDS
pay more than something is worth
pay more than something is worth
Ex. This dress is too expensive. There is just no point in paying over the odds for it.
Russian equivalent: переплачивать.
6. Honesty or Dishonesty?
Idioms about the way people behave for money's sake.
TAKE SOMEONE TO THE CLEANER'S
get as much money from someone as you can (informal)
Ex. He got into a game of poker with two professional gamblers and, of course, they took him to the cleaner's.
Russian equivalent: ободрать как липку.
WOULD SELL THEIR OWN GRANDMOTHER
would do anything to get money (informal)
Ex. Sue is so greedy! She would sell her own grandmother.
Russian equivalent: мать родную не пожалеет.
7. Cheap or Expensive?
Idioms to speak about how much something costs.
CHEAP AND CHEERFUL
cheap but good or enjoyable
Ex. We had a lunch in a cheap and cheerful restaurant.
Russian equivalent: дёшево и сердито.
NOT BREAK THE BANK
not cost a lot
Ex. And at £12.99 a bottle, this is a champagne that won't break the bank.
Russian equivalent: сильно не потратимся.
GO FOR A SONG
be sold very cheaply
Ex. I bought a new guitar at the weekend. It was going for a song at only 40 pounds.
Russian equivalent: продаваться за бесценок.
Sources:
1. F. O'Dell, M. McCarthy. English Idioms in Use. Advanced.
2. Free Dictionary by Farlex.
3. The British National Corpus.
